Celebrated actor and Jasper native Michael Rooker to appear as special guest of George Lindsey UNA Film FestivalJan. 23, 2012

The 15th Annual George Lindsey UNA Film Festival will pay tribute to actor and fan favorite Michael Rooker. Born in Jasper, Alabama, also the birthplace of festival founder George Lindsey, Rooker’s extensive list of work in film includes such notable titles as “Slither,” “The Replacement Killers,” “Days of Thunder,” and the highly acclaimed “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.” Rooker is widely known for his many roles in television, most recently as the tough redneck Merle Dixon in AMC’s “The Walking Dead.” Rooker is also the voice of multiple video game characters and is a playable character in “Call of Duty: Black Ops.”

LindseyFest will hold a special event honoring Rooker on Friday, March 2. The time and location will be announced soon. In the meantime, fans can follow the star on Twitter at @Michael_Rooker, or on his web site, www.michaelrookeronline.com.

The George Lindsey UNA Film Festival is one of the few film festivals hosted by a university. The event was founded in 1998 in part by UNA alumnus and celebrated actor and entertainer George Lindsey. Lindsey’s own film career has included several important roles, including the character Goober Pyle on “The Andy Griffith Show.”